Robotic miniature golf

ABSTRACT

A game played on a miniature golf course is provided that includes two or more robots, each individually assigned to a player. A remote controller is individually assigned to each of the players for control of one of the two or more robots. A color-coded ball unique from the others is individually assigned to each of the players. A method of playing a golf game is also provide that includes the assignment to each player of a controller, the controller directing the operation of a specific robot. The player strikes a ball unique to the each of the players with the robot through controls passed through the controller on a miniature golf course hole with the object of urging the ball into a cup on the miniature golf course hole. The players can compete to do so by various metrics.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a non-provisional application that claims priority benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/444,917 filed Jan. 11, 2017; the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention in general relates to sports games, and in particular to robotic based games played on a miniature golf course.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Miniature golf or minigolf, is based on the sport of golf and focuses on the putting aspect of the parent game. Miniature golf is played on courses with a series of holes (usually a multiple of 9) as found in traditional golf, but miniature golf courses have short lengths (usually within 10 yards from tee to cup). Miniature golf courses typically use artificial putting surfaces such as carpet, AstroTurf™ and/or concrete. Miniature golf courses have a geometric layout often requiring non-traditional putting lines such as bank shots, and artificial obstacles such as tunnels/tubes, ramps, concrete/metal/fiberglass forms, and moving obstacles such as windmills.

Miniature golf when played in groups of two or more people is generally very slow and time consuming with each player having to take turns in hitting their assigned ball until they complete a hole on the course. Players most wait for their turn during each golf stroke, and after completing a hole they are idle while others complete a hole. With the advent of computer games, augmented reality, laser tag, paint ball, and other live action games, the popularity and appeal of traditional miniature golf continues to wane as young adults continue to favor faster paced action games.

Thus, there is a need for enhanced games played on miniature golf courses to improve the appeal of the miniature golf venue to younger adults.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A game played on a miniature golf course is provided that includes two or more robots, each individually assigned to a player. A remote controller is individually assigned to each of the players for control of one of the two or more robots. A color-coded ball unique from the others is individually assigned to each of the players.

A method of playing a golf game is also provide that includes the assignment to each of two or more players of a controller, the controller directing the operation of a specific robot from among two or more robots. The player strikes a ball unique to the each of two or more players with the robot through controls passed through the controller on a miniature golf course hole with the object of urging the ball into a cup on the miniature golf course hole. The players can compete to do so by various metrics.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is further detailed with respect to the following drawings that are intended to show certain aspects of the present of invention, but should not be construed as limit on the practice of the invention, where like numbers have the same meaning in the different drawing views, and wherein:

FIG. 1A is a side view of an embodiment of a robot operative in the present invention;

FIG. 1B is a bottom view of the robot shown in FIG. 1A; and

FIG. 2 is a system view of an embodiment of a miniature golf course with robots and controllers networked to a computer for playing games in accordance with embodiments of the invention

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has utility as versions of enhanced games played on miniature golf courses to improve the appeal of a miniature golf venue to younger adults. Embodiments of the invention utilize a set of game playing robots that are individually assigned to each player for a race. Each of the individually assigned robots push a color-coded ball that is also assigned to each player with the object of the game to navigate the miniature golf course hole by hole. Players may control their assigned robot with a dedicated wireless controller, or via a downloadable application (app) on a tablet or smartphone brought to the miniature golf venue by the player. The miniature golf venue may have a central computer that networks with the robots and player controllers, or with the app on the smartphones or tablets. The central computer may be used to track race results and times. Embodiments of the robots may have attachments (arms, probes, pushers, etc.) so that a robot can guide the balls and get the balls out of situations where the ball is stuck. Such robots have been used in arena-type goal scoring games as detailed by the applicant in U.S. Pat. No. 9,623,319 B2, the contents of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

Miniature golf courses may require (if necessary) temporary modifications to protect or prevent robots from falling into water or being damaged by mechanisms controlling moving obstacles. Furthermore, a course may require (if necessary) temporary modifications to keep balls from getting stuck in places where robot cannot move it out of. Examples of temporary modifications illustratively include bumpers, ramps, and bridges which may be made of foam, plastic, or wood. Even with modification, it may be necessary to skip holes that cannot accommodate the robots.

In an embodiment of the game each of the players simultaneously race against each other to see who is first to push their assigned ball into each of the cups of the nine or eighteen-hole course. The fast pace of the game, the lack of waiting for other players, and eliminating the need to track whose turn it is make for an enhanced gaming experience for players. The player who wins the most holes in the miniature golf course wins the overall game. For example, if four players A, B, C, and D are playing in a nine-hole course the player who wins the most races of the nine individual races wins the overall competition or game. In an embodiment, the times for each of the four players to complete each of the nine holes is added together, and the player with the overall lowest time to complete the nine holes (i.e., getting their ball into each of the nine cups of the nine-hole course) wins. In an embodiment player scores are based on finishing position (first, second, third and fourth) for each hole with the lowest total score of hole finishes at the end of the round of holes wins the entire competition.

Referring now to the figures, FIGS. 1A and 1B are a side view and bottom view, respectively of an embodiment of a robot 10 that may be propelled and steered by drive wheels 12. Fitted to the robot 10 are one or more attachments shown collectively at 14 (arms, probes, pushers, etc.) so that a robot can guide and/or strike the balls and get the balls out of situations where the ball is stuck. In some inventive embodiments, the robot 10 is equipped with a video camera 16, the output of which is displayed on a controller 28 to aid a player in aligning the robot 10 to aid in ball contact. In still other embodiments, the video camera 16 is equipped with range finding sensors 18, the output of which can be displayed for the player directly of used in computations to coach a player as to how best to strike the ball.

FIG. 2 is a system view 20 of an embodiment of a single hole 22 in a miniature golf course with robots 10 and controllers 28 networked to a computer 30 for playing games. The robots 10 are lined up behind a starting line 32 prior to beginning a hole. Players compete to get their ball 26 into cup 24 first in either the fastest time or with the fewest strokes or pushes with their assigned robot 10. The controller 28 may be a dedicated wireless controller provided by the venue on a rental basis, or a tablet or smartphone loaded with a downloadable application (app) that is brought to the miniature golf venue by the player. The miniature golf venue may have a central computer 30 that networks with the robots 10, dedicated player controllers, or with the app on the smartphones or tablets. Networking may be carried out via a Wi-Fi with coverage over the entire miniature golf venue. The central computer 30 may be used to track race results and times. Embodiments of the robots may have attachments shown as 14 (arms, probes, pushers, etc.) so that a robot can guide and/or strike the balls and get the balls out of situations where the ball is stuck.

The foregoing description is illustrative of particular embodiments of the invention, but is not meant to be a limitation upon the practice thereof. 

1. A game played on a miniature golf course comprising: two or more robots, each individually assigned to one of a plurality of players; two or more remote controllers each individually assigned to one of the plurality of players for control of the two or more robots; and two or more balls each individually assigned to one of the plurality of players for robotic movement on the miniature golf course.
 2. The game of claim 1 wherein the two or more remote controllers are dedicated wireless controllers.
 3. The game of claim 1 wherein the two or more remote controllers are a tablet or smartphone having a downloadable application (app) for controlling the assigned robot and for tracking parameters related to the game.
 4. The game of claim 1 further comprising a central computer, the central computer networked with the two or more robots and with the two or more remote controllers.
 5. The game of claim 4 wherein the central computer is networked via Wi-Fi with the two or more robots and with the two or more remote controllers.
 6. The game of claim 4 wherein the central computer tracks game results and times.
 7. The game of claim 1 wherein at least one of the two or more robots further comprises one or more attachments adapted to engage to one of the two or more color-coded balls so as to guide, strike, extricate, or a combination.
 8. The game of claim 7 wherein the one or more attachments is an arm, a probe, or a pusher.
 9. The game of claim 1 further comprising a video camera on at least one of the two or more robots.
 10. The game of claim 10 further comprising a range finding sensor associated with the video camera, an output of the range finding sensor.
 11. A method of playing a golf game comprising: assigning to each of two or more players a controller; the controller directing the operation of a specific robot from among two or more robots; striking a ball unique to the each of two or more players with the robot through controls passed through the controller on a miniature golf course hole with the object of urging the ball into a cup on the miniature golf course hole.
 12. The method of claim 11 wherein the two or more players compete.
 13. The method of claim 11 wherein the two or more players simultaneously race to place their assigned ball into each of a set of holes of the miniature golf course.
 14. The method of claim 13 wherein one of the two or more players wins by being first to a plurality of the set of holes.
 15. The method of claim 13 wherein one of the two or more players wins with the overall lowest time to complete the miniature golf course.
 16. The method of claim 11 wherein one of the two or more players wins with the lowest total score of hole finishes at the end of a round of holes.
 17. The method of claim 11 further comprising providing one of the two or more players with a video display from the robot.
 18. The method of claim 11 further comprising providing one of the two or more players with a range measurement to the cup.
 19. The method of claim 18 further comprising providing one of the two or more players with coaching via the controller as to how best to strike the ball. 